Rotating disc valve

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided facilitating control of material flow. A valve comprises a rotating disc, wherein the rotating disc further comprises at least one hole and one closure surface to facilitate opening and closing a material flow path. In an open state a hole is positioned in the flow path, in a closed state a closure surface is placed in the flow path. Further, sacrificial components are included in the valve to reduce the effects of wear. Furthermore, wear of the sacrificial components can be determined without having to disassemble the valve.

1 . A system for controlling flow of material through a valve, comprising:
 a rotating disc comprising a plurality of holes and a plurality of closure surfaces separating the plurality of holes;   a drive to facilitate rotation of the rotating disc; and   a control to operate the drive to position one of a hole or a closure surface with respect to a valve flow path.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein rotation of the rotating disc locates the hole in the valve flow path to facilitate flow of material through the valve. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein rotation of the rotating disc locates the closure surface in the valve flow path to terminate flow of material through the valve. 
     
     
         4 . The system if  claim 1 , further comprising a pivot shaft on which the rotating disc is located. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , the pivot shaft further comprising at least one index to facilitate determination of whether the hole or the closure surface is located with respect to the valve flow path. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising at least one proximity sensor to measure the position of the at least one index. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rotating disc is sandwiched between wear plates. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising application of compressive force on the rotating disc to prevent ingress of material between an operating surface of the rotating disc and an opposing surface in contact with the operating surface of the rotating disc. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising springs which apply compressive force to a plate acting as the opposing surface in contact with the operating surface of the rotating disc, wherein the plate transmits compressive force to the operating surface of the rotating disc. 
     
     
         10 . A method for controlling flow of material through a valve, comprising:
 rotating a disc across the flow path of the valve, wherein the disc further comprises a plurality of holes and closure surfaces.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising rotating the disc such that a hole is located in the flow path of the valve facilitating flow of material along the flow path. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising rotating the disc such that a closure surface is located in the flow path of the valve facilitating flow of material along the flow path. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising determining position of at least one hole in the plurality of holes or at least one closure surface in the plurality of closure surfaces. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising determining the position of the at least one hole in the plurality of holes or the at least one closure surface in the plurality of closure surfaces by monitoring a position of an index associated with the at least hole or the at least one closure surface. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising rotating the disc in accordance with the position of the index facilitating positioning of the at least one hole in the plurality of holes or the at least one closure surface in the plurality of closure surfaces with respect to the flow path. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising separating a surface of the rotating disc from an inner surface of the valve by a sacrificial wear plate. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising determining wear of the sacrificial wear plate by measuring a position of the disc with respect to a datum associated with an external surface of the valve. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising utilizing a pinion gear to mesh with a rack gear running around the circumference of the disc. 
     
     
         19 . A system comprising:
 means for controlling flow of material, further comprising:   a plurality of means for opening a flow path;   a plurality of means for closing a flow path; and   means for advancing the means for opening a flow path or the means for closing the valve path with a position respective to a flow path.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising means for determining the position of the plurality of means for opening the flow path.